CHICAGO - Through their vast network of contacts, aided by a filthy rich war chest, NBA teams comb every corner of the universe looking for a franchise player that they can build a championship team around.
In 2015, the New York Knicks found someone whom they believed could reverse their dwindling fortunes. So they hauled in this 7-foot-3, 240-pound kid from Latvia and made him the fourth overall fourth pick in the NBA Draft that year.
The rest is Kristaps Porzingis history.
Sadly, fairy tale unions, the ones that last happily ever after, are rare in the NBA.
For every Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki, who toiled 20-plus seasons playing for only one team, there are equally bigger names - Kevin Durant and LeBron James, to name a few - who have embarked on a nomadic journey in search of the elusive ring.
On Friday, in a blockbuster deal days ahead of the February 7 deadline, Porzingis joined the ranks of the miserable who got a chance at a fresh start.
He is now bound for Dallas alongside former Knicks teammates Courtney Lee, Tim Hardway Jr and Trey Burke. The Mavericks, in return, shipped Deandre Jordan, Wesley Matthews, Dennis Smith Jr. and two future first-round draft picks to New York.
What happened, why did the Knicks part with the precious Unicorn?
He was unhappy and requested a trade, according to ESPN.
So instead of keeping a malcontent, whose bad vibes can create an atmosphere where cancer can grow in the locker room, the Knicks acted swiftly and decisively, and found a willing dance partner in the Mavericks.
Make no false assumptions, Kristaps didn't behave like a prima donna who threw a tantrum because his whims weren't accommodated. He wants out simply because he thought the Knicks lacked the organizational compass that points to success as a direction.
In his three seasons on Madison avenue, New York decomposed with just 92 wins against 154 defeats with no sign of getting another star to save the day like a Knick in shining armor.
WHILE IN THE BIG APPLE, Porzingis played for three coaches in three years - Derek Fisher, Kurt Rambis and Jeff Hornacek. Even a schizophrenic can only hear so many voices without losing his mind.
The Knicks, through GM Scott Perry, beat their chests by issuing a statement saying "we made a trade we are confident improves the franchise."
This made me laugh and I'm grateful for the comic relief considering how gloomy we have been here in Chicago the last few days when the Antarctica-like weather made our temperatures sink to 27 degrees below zero, paralyzing the city.
Look. Jordan and Matthews, the son of former Ginebra import Wes Matthews, both have expiring contracts and could possibly be bought out.
That said, how exactly does a franchise get better when it loses a generational talent who is only 23 and who averaged 22.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per last season?
I know, Porzingis tore his ACL last February. But the Knicks medical team declared prior to the trade that the injury was healing well. Also, because of the advances of medical technology, ACL tears are no longer career killers. Look at Zach LaVine, he's flying like Air Force One with the Bulls.
The clear winner in this two-team swap is the Dallas Mavericks. You'd have to be blind not to see that,
Mark Cuban always replies every time I shoot him an email.
He hadn't answered the three-question message I sent hours ago.
And I don't blame him. He must be too busy celebrating the year's biggest steal so far.
If Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash were exciting in the early 2000s, can you imagine what joy the tandem of Porzingis and Luka Doncic would bring to Mavs fans in this new era?
Rod Stewart was right when he sang about rich dudes like Cuban.
Some guys have all the luck.
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